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Saturday, August 30, 2008

GOP's Gender Gambit

After 8 years of making the office of the Vice President the de facto President with Dick Cheney, a maneuver stealthily undertaken by Cheney and David Addington; the Republicans are now proposing to transform the same office into an apprenticeship program for the highest office of the country. George W. Bush was rendered a puppet President by the previous alteration that became so obvious he had to declare himself the "Decider" (sic).Now, the GOP hopes to make the office of the Vice President a scholarship project with experiments in gender acceptability and suitability. The selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is undoubtedly a brilliant move. She will add luster to the boring campaign of John McCain and energize the tired and geriatric appearance of the GOP Presidential candidate. No sooner than her selection was announced, the Republican propaganda machinery headed by Fox network, expressed public opinion influencing statements extolling her qualifications and background. The media machinery of the GOP has been busy promoting her and creating news stories that step over the main candidate. Conservative bloggers who had previously rejected McCain but consistently bashed Obama are all praises for theVP nominee, and state that they will now vote for McCain because of Sarah Palin; who is a stunner and a former beauty queen.They have now changed their minds because of a woman, after trashing Hillary because she was a woman. If Hillary had been a beauty queen, could they have accepted her? There is also the angle that Palin is not a lawyer which is ideal as far as they're concerned. Perhaps Hillary should have had 5 children too and perhaps played hockey? The conservatives have thrown their conservatism out the window because she is a Republican. And one with a lot of spunk, charisma, and a successful track record in governance and administration for at least 2 years. The Republicans have chosen someone better looking than Geena Davis to take over the Presidency as Commander-in-Chief. Strategically, her selection is a brilliant move.It is however, a gambit that is not foolproof.The Republicans hope that Palin's youth would provide sustainable cover for the alzheimeric age of John McCain, rally the young voters to their ticket by her vibrant personality and younger than Obama's years factor, win over Hillary's supporters disgruntled by her failure to capture the DNC nomination, attract those voters who want a woman in the highest echelons of government, and provide a beautiful face for America in the global stage. Experience is her biggest drawback since 2 years as governor may not be sufficient exposure when transposed to the concerns of America today and in the next 4 years. So too would be her total absence of foreign relations and foreign policy expertise. Her role as facilitator for the President with Congress, Washington lobbyists, and power brokers could be detrimental to her longevity if she pursues her former tack. Her acquiesance, on the other hand, could transform her into a Washington type politician in a very short time.

The empowerment of women and their involvement in the highest positions of the country must be supported and advanced, provided this is not a ploy against all women aspiring for higher position. If elected and she is led to fail in this post, it would take a whole generation before another woman could be trusted with such a post or higher. America is late in this development and it has taken a long struggle to get to this point. If she is merely a smokescreen to get McCain elected to continue the policies of the Bush Administration, then this could be damaging to the idea of having a woman President in the next 2 decades.

What American voters should bear in mind is the fact that if the Republicans win, it will be McCain who will be President, not Palin. And if the expectations of the GOP about what they hope to achieve with Palin as McCain's running mate are true, then they consider Republican supporters and American voters at large as an entity with a ridiculous incapacity for logical thinking, blinded by party loyalty that discriminates against the interest of the country as a whole. Party bigwigs and strategists most probably see American voters as manipulable, gullible, and possessed with brains that are valued in the organ donor market for their slightly used or mint condition.

On the other hand, all the enthusiasm and jubilation at the appointment of the sensational Sarah Palin may be appropriate and timely. McCain, who pales in comparison to Palin, could really use the sizzle she could bring to the campaign. The GOP could truly want both their nominees to win and would want Palin to be prepared immediately for the highest post, because, shortly after the election, they expect McCain to die.

If Hillary had been a beauty queen would they have accepted her, you ask. Answer: Nope. Beauty is more than outside looks -- it is inner beauty, morals, character, and Palin has it all. If she proves to be the formidable candidate and VP I think she will be -- this places her in a good position for 2012.

Hello Durano,Excellent commentary! I'm sure that Senator McCain selected Governor Palin because she's a woman, who can reenergize the Republican Party. But he didn't pick just any woman. He selected a woman who is intelligent, an independent thinker, confident, a mother, a wife, an outdoorsperson, one of the regular people, who happens to be very beautiful and happens to be the Governor of Alaska. I'm certainly energized by her selection as McCain's VP.

I really wonder about the RNC's pick but, I hear McCain plays craps and likes to take chances, so his VP pick is reflective of that.

Nevertheless, I wonder if they really think that Hillary-democrats will vote for an uber conservative, gun totting, Republican. I know there are other factors involved in the VP choice, but I really can't get over this issue.

It is nice to learn that she is supposedly a vicious governor. I also highly admire her ability to balance motherhood, being a wife and of course being a governor. It cannot be easy. But, am I the only one that is not captivated by her voice? Maybe its just me or the fact that people are worried about 'attacking'/ bullying a female politician (as such accusations were thrown about in the Democratic primaries).

Great, strategic move by the McCain camp. Who even saw that coming?Now it really is a monumental race of all proportions, groundbreaking and whichever way it goes, history will be made. A glass ceiling broken.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the campaign strategies of both ensue from here! Methinks there may be some fireworks in store....

Thanks again. However, I believe you too, or anyone for that matter can write comprehensively on topics that they fancy or on any topic at all.

I am merely giving my tack on those aspects of the original story and/or an alternative view. A background on global politics and economics may be needed at times but even that can be obtained in a short time.

The more difficult thing to do is to create something that would be interesting for a wide spectrum of readers, such as fiction stories that are based on historical events - which is what you do.

Keep it up and who knows, someday I may claim to know someone who has won a major award in short story writing. :-) --Durano, done!

I agree that Hillary has several skeletons in her closet and its an awfully enormous closet too. Even if she were a beauty queen, her persona has been damaged by her own undoing. That line about her being a beauty queen or a hockey player was just a tease. :-)

If the Republicans win and she does well is her position, she could be unbeatable in 2012, Hillary would be too old to pose any good challenge. If Palin could survive the Washington powerbrokers, lobbyists and Congressional bigwigs,and come out clean too, she would be the rallying point of all women in America, their symbol of empowerment and equality.

Till then, there are so many concerns that would impact on Americans that have nothing to do with 2012. These should be her areas of concentration first. :-) --Durano, done!

The fact that she's a relative newcomer in the USA's national political scene, and that she has a well balanced performance as Governor and mother, plus being a woman - may be factors, as you suspect, that makes people careful about attacking her which could be construed as bullying.

The difference with Hillary was that she opened herself to attacks by her exposure and positions on issues, as well as her own attacks on the policies and positions of her adversaries. She also created that image of being as hard and tough as any man who can take anything they can dish out.

Her past deals also had questionable motivations which provided more ammunition from her enemies to discredit her character and image.

There is a strong suggestion that McCain will only govern for one term, if he wins; and that Palin would be groomed to run in 2012. It seems that the GOP preparations are all towards elections to keep control. I wonder if they care what happens in-between election years? :-) --Durano, done!

McCain may be a fool but he is not stupid. He divorced his wife after losing some height and being disfigured in a car accident; married his mistress whose money he used to finance his political career - even if this inheritance was borne from a business in beer distributorship his father-in-law obtained from the Mafia - for heaven knows what in return. And his marriage to Cindy, who looks like "Barbie's Mother", has provided an added glow to his career.

It's definitely going to be an exciting race, one that could see the momentum seesaw between the two parties and their candidates.

I just hope no one dies before or immediately after the election. Accidentally or otherwise. :-) --Durano, done!

Humor is the only thing that can make us cope really well, especially where I'm at.

Besides, whoever wins, it will remain America's interests that they will secure and protect first - not Australia's nor the Philippines. So, let's just enjoy the show and make our funny commentaries and jokes, because after all is finished, the joke may be on us. Have a nice weekend. :-) --Durano, done!

Really? It's 3 to 1 already? At least I didn't contribute to the imbalance as I have 4 girls and 4 boys.

You've published a short story or an anthology of short stories? Have you joined the Palanca short story writing contest? It's a good venue to get a significant literary notice.

As to a novel, I've been kicking a story in my head for sometime and it could have the scope of a novel. Then I saw how the lead character and her life as years wear on becomes similar to the fate of the country itself. Thus, she could represent the Filipino and their family bonds, as well as become the symbol for Mother Philippines. But I am rethinking this link.

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About this Blog

Spitting vessels were part of the Asian cultures for many centuries, emanating from China to the Southeast Malay countries.
For all the many things that are difficult to swallow in this world that leave a bad taste in the mouth, here's a spittoon to expectorate it.

I am Durano Lawayan a.k.a. Brad Spit

My orientation is that of a management consultant. I am naturally drawn towards change for as long as it is sustainable and possesses real long term benefits. If we have to change by going back to basics like organic food, less transfat, zero carbon emissions, I'm all for it.

There are many things we have been made to accept, drummed into our brains since we were kids; that these were true, unchangeable, and permanent. Well nothing is permanent and anything can be changed. What was true before may be uncovered today for the phoniness that it was and is. I keep a questioning attitude and a persistent orientation, balanced by a positive outlook.

I love to laugh and enjoy life, and hope the pain brought about by what is wrong in this world is somehow diluted by this merriment.

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